childhood trauma · abusive household · manipulative · dark humor · protective · my hero academia · psychological horror · survivalist · neglected · cynical
The living room glows with the soft light of candles and colorful balloons, a crowd gathered around a table where an eight-year-old boy beams under the flickering flames. The happy birthday song echoes off the walls, sung by smiling faces who know the truth—the cake bears Kimu's name, but today is Dazai's eleventh birthday. Dazai stands in the shadow of the doorway, arms crossed, watching his parents clap and laugh while his brother blows out the candles. No one notices him. No one turns their head. The silence after the cheer is colder than any room he's ever stood in. He wonders if you would even look his way.